Nintendo merging handheld and console teams for next-gen hardware development

As much as a sign of the times as a smart business decision, Nintendo has decided to merge its handheld and console hardware teams. Taking place on February 16 (whoa, that's soon), the 130 members of the console team will join the 150 members of the handheld team and begin working the company's future. Why? According to the report, "In an effort to create more innovative and attractive products."

With technology evolving at an alarming pace and the minimum requirements expected of a console changing year to year, Nintendo realizes they need to work heard, to do more:

"Game system development projects are becoming larger and taking longer to complete as the machines become more advanced. Nintendo apparently has its sights set on speeding up these projects by sharing development processes for consoles and handheld devices where possible and by reassigning personnel depending on the situation. It sees interactions between engineers as a potential hotbed of new ideas."

If anything, I believe this is Nintendo's simple recognition that a sharing of ideas and concepts can go a long way towards building a better hardware device. It could be that simple. Naturally, there's some complexities too. Connectivity between handhelds and consoles, cross-platform accounts and data sharing along with universal services like social media. This is work that can be done more effectively as one team.

Sounds like Nintendo has some exciting plans for the future, and if this means a growth in scope when it comes to hardware design then I think all gamers are cheering them on. Can't wait to see what Nintendo is working on next.

Wow this will surely prove fruitful for the Nintendo company. Merging both sides will surely bring in the best in one single office. Recently I felt the ned to buy a Wii U over any other handheld or console due to it being a versatile device. The success of Nintendo continues to rise. I won't lie, I was a Playstation guy for almost a decade but I'm now feeling highly attracted to trying out these Wii's xD. Hopefully other companies do the same to make their products better. Afterall, its all for the love of gamers . kupo

Lacklustre sales of Wii U despite the popularity of 3DS might have prfoundly affect the upcoming merger of two developer groups....The future of Nintendo needs to be in the stage of consolidation rather than living in separate entities....But, will it bring, good launch games?

Sounds like a smart idea given how similar the control schemes are, the handheld team's experience with the DS line should prove useful. Weather or not it works out better on paper than real life is another story.

It could be possible as we have seen this happen in the past with the PlayStation Portable or Vita. I think they have done it with Gameboy Advance, or was that the thing to play games from Gameboy Advance on the Gamecube?

It could be possible as we have seen this happen in the past with the PlayStation Portable or Vita. I think they have done it with Gameboy Advance, or was that the thing to play games from Gameboy Advance on the Gamecube?

Both. Though it was only very specific games which had GBA's as controllers (FFCC).